Washington, D.C. - In celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI), U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Kay Coles James is ensuring that federal agencies are well-equipped with creative materials to educate their employees on the upcoming FEGLI Open Season. The Open Season will run from September 1 through September 30, 2004.

"As the largest group life insurance program in the world, covering over 4 million federal employees and retirees, FEGLI is an excellent example of the benefits available to civil servants as they plan a secure future for themselves and their families," said James. "During this 50^th anniversary celebration, it's important that employees have the tools they need to make informed decisions about their life insurance needs."

These educational materials, created exclusively for agency human resources professionals, are contained in a new "toolbox" that will help agencies hold informational meetings for their eligible employees about the FEGLI Program. The toolbox contains an easy-to-follow suggestion sheet on conducting successful meetings; a CD-ROM containing ready-to-use slide presentations with speaker's notes, and ready-to-send email messages; posters to promote the meetings, sample enrollment packets, and an educational video.

The educational video is available in several formats to meet the needs of all federal employees. Agency human resources professionals can order FEGLI Open Season videos on CD-ROM with or without captioning, or on VHS with or without closed captioning.

The enrollment packets contain a letter from Director James, a special FEGLI 2004 Open Season brochure, a copy of the election form, and a worksheet that employees can use to estimate their needs for life insurance.

All FEGLI 2004 Open Season materials, including an interactive worksheet to estimate life insurance needs and a calculator to price various combinations of coverage, will be on the special Open Season website at www.fegli2004.opm.gov, which will be available throughout the Open Season.

The FEGLI program, the oldest benefits program in the federal government, was established on August 29, 1954. During the Open Season, federal and postal employees in eligible positions can enroll in the FEGLI program or increase or change current coverage without having a physical or answering any questions about their health. The earliest that newly elected coverage will be effective is September 1, 2005. Retirees cannot participate in FEGLI Open Seasons.